Asia, America, and the Transformation of Geopolitics

by William H. Overholt

• ISBN13: 9780521895873
• ISBN10: 0521895871
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-11-12
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

American security and prosperity now depend on Asia. William H. Overholt offers an iconoclastic analysis of developments in each major Asian country, Asian international relations, and U.S. foreign policy. Drawing on decades of political and business experience, he argues that obsolete Cold War attitudes tie the U.S. increasingly to an otherwise isolated Japan and obscure the reality that a U.S.-Chinese bicondominium now manages most Asian issues. Military priorities risk polarizing the region unnecessarily, weaken the economic relationships that engendered American preeminence, and ironically enhance Chinese influence. As a result, despite its Cold War victory, U.S. influence in Asia is declining. Overholt disputes the argument that democracy promotion will lead to superior development and peace, and forecasts a new era in which Asian geopolitics could take a drastically different shape. Covering Japan, China, Russia, Central Asia, India, Pakistan, Korea, and South-East Asia, Overholt offers invaluable insights for scholars, policymakers, business people, and general readers.

Author Biography

William H. Overholt is Director of RAND's Center for Asia Pacific Policy and holds the Asia Policy Research Chair at the Center.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The inertia of foreign policies

Cold War assumptions and changing realities

Regional trends

AsiaÃóâé¼âäós big powers: Japan and China

Smaller places, decisive pivots: Taiwan, Korea, Southeast Asia

The aspiring power and its near abroad: India and South Asia

Russia and its near abroad

The United States and the New Asia

Scenarios for the future

Conclusion

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